Minn-Dak's Mike Metzger Gives Sugar Beet Planting Update

Mike Metzger, agriculturalist for Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative, talks sugarbeet planting with Mick Kjar on Farm Talk. 

Photo courtesy of AgWeek.

The 2017 planting season is well in progress for growers of the Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative. As of April 19, nearly 50% of the co-op’s 95,000 acres have been planted.

“We underway, unlike a few of the other regions. Things are going really well. We have about 42,000 acres in the ground so far and guys are getting caught up to their wet ground,” said Minn-Dak agriculturalist, Mike Metzger in an interview with Mick Kjar on Farm Talk. 

“The stuff that went in is in good shape. We are off to a great start. This is one of our earliest years in recent history. Last year a lot of our stuff went in in the first part of April and we ended up with a boomer crop. It came out at about 32 ton to the acre for the co-op, which beat our former record by about five ton to the acre. In anticipation for that, our board of directors have dropped our planting acreage to 95,000. I think that will give us something a little more manageable, give time for the factory guys to put a little duct tape and bailing wire on the place and get it ready for this next season.”

Metzger warns that once planting is over, there is no time for rest. Preparation should begin for the first round of herbicide applications. 

“For the guys who have their beets in the ground, get the sprayer ready because pre-emerge herbicides have to go on,” he said. “Waterhemp is on its way. Data shows that the best way to keep waterhemp and other glyphosate-resistant weeds in check is to get a pre-emerge down and follow with two split applications with a lay-by herbicide.”

Metzger says waterhemp will most likely be the number one weed of concern for farmers. 

“Everyone has their eye on Palmer amaranth after it’s been discovered in three counties in Minnesota, but for us right now, waterhemp is number one weed problem.”

Click below to listen to the podcast of Metzger’s entire interview with Mick Kjar. 

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